The Community Foundation of Teton Valley recently welcomed Jeannette Chiari, Thad Nosal, Dean Scofield, and Ben Turner as new board members. New governance and committee roles for existing members were also established.
“Community impact is achieved through the collective and selfless efforts of individuals dedicated to a common goal and purpose,” says Bonnie Self, Executive Director of the Community Foundation. “By gathering individuals passionate about helping, we advance our mission. We are fortunate to have a strong team committed to elevating lives through the power of generosity.”
Jeannette Chiari was born in Panama and worked for the Department of Defense there before transferring to the Pentagon in 1993. She dedicated over 30 years to the federal government and spent 10 years with a nonprofit focused on national security issues. Jeannette applies her extensive management and financial expertise to support the communities where she lives through volunteering; in addition to helping local organizations, she provides free tax assistance to lower-income families during her winters in the Florida Keys. She feels a “strong sense of community and philanthropy that makes Teton Valley a place we are proud to be part of, where we take care of our own.”
Although Thad Nosal grew up and lived in the New York City area, he has been visiting Teton Valley for over 30 years. He has since moved here and fell in love with the scenic beauty and community of the valley. Thad recently retired as the director of a risk management advisory service for a large public corporation, having dedicated most of his career to helping businesses identify, assess, and manage operational risks to make their businesses safer and more profitable. Thad first became involved with the Foundation by participating on the organization’s Grant Committee, where he noted, “It was an eye-opening experience to learn about the critical roles nonprofits play in the valley and the importance of having an entity like the Community Foundation to support them.”
After 28 years of providing financial, tax, and investment advice to families and individuals, Dean Scofield sold his practice to embark on a second career as a trumpet player. He can be seen performing with various local groups, spanning multiple genres. Dean has lived in the region for over 20 years and currently serves on the Idaho Falls Symphony board. He is a former board member of numerous musical and conservation nonprofits, including board emeritus for the Teton Regional Land Trust. Dean “looks forward to helping promote the inclusive community approach that the Community Foundation espouses and aiding local nonprofits elevate their missions.”
While Ben Turner now calls Teton Valley home, he was born and raised on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. He spent most of his adult life serving in the Canadian Army in a fulfilling occupation that took him worldwide. After retirement from the military, Ben wanted to prioritize becoming an active community member. He volunteers with various organizations, including the Search and Rescue and Food for Good. When not volunteering, Ben can be found chasing elk around the woods, skiing on Teton Pass, or exploring the amazing mountains he feels blessed to enjoy living in.
While we welcome new faces, we also extend our gratitude to Ben Reese, Delwyn Jensen, and Natalie Volcko for their dedicated service on the board for many years. Ben was an excellent and committed Finance Chair, Delwyn led the Nominating Committee, and Natalie served on Donor Relations. All three readily shared their expertise and contributed valuable insights to the organization. We appreciate their commitment to supporting and improving the Foundation during their time with us.
The Community Foundation is delighted to announce that Gene Marcowka will continue serving as Board Emeritus. Gene dedicated nine years to the Foundation, actively participating on the Executive Committee as Vice Chair and on the Finance and Donor Relations Committees. He has always been willing to ask tough questions, think creatively, and challenge the status quo. The Community Foundation is grateful to Gene for accepting this two-year term and deeply appreciates the steadfast encouragement, perspective, support, time, and expertise he has generously shared.
The Community Foundation Board of Directors and Officers continue to provide vital leadership for the organization. The Foundation is delighted that Scott Pierson will continue as Board Chair, Tina Culman as Vice-Chair and Nominating Chair, and Pam Walker as Secretary. Dean Scofield has taken over as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee with Scott, Jeannette, Ben, and Marie Zolezzi. Stella Martin has taken the helm of our stewardship efforts as Donor Relations Chair alongside Muffy Mead and Sue Mason. Pam Walker is our Grant chair, working as a committee with John Finley, Stella, Thad, September Myres, Nan Pugh, Ulla Rasche, and Marie.
Together, this team is committed to upholding and celebrating what has become the foundation of our nonprofit landscape for the past 18 years. The Community Foundation Board is passionate about supporting Teton Valley through their combined time, expertise, and skills.
